THENUANCED MAJESTICNESSOF MOLO PLAZA

Located at the very heart of the Molo district, the Molo Plaza is probably one of the most prominent, overt places in Iloilo. It is one of Iloilo City’s seven district plazas. Molo Plaza is an exquisite, well maintained place boasting its enormous Kalachuchi and Balete trees that provide shade for those beneath its jungle-like thick vines and large and leathery leaves. The plaza is filled with such trees, with gnarled trunks and robust branches, and an intriguing domed-shaped gazebo (also called a rotonda), which serves as a bandstand, a classic lineament in Western Visayas’ plazas. In efforts to break the monotony of the artworks, during the rehabilitation, a fountain was also built in August 2022. Formerly a separate municipality but incorporated as a district of Iloilo City in 1903, Molo is both old and historic— during the Spanish era, it was an educational center of the country and has been dubbed. The Athens of the Philippines. The district plaza hosts some of the most prominent and life-size statues of Greek goddesses, such as Aphrodite (of love and beauty), Athena (of war and wisdom), Artemis (of wilderness, hunt, and fertility), Demeter (of agriculture), Hera (of marriage), Hestia (of domesticity), and even the infamous women warriors and monument of Maria Clara. Beside the plaza is the majestic Molo Church, built in 1863.

The newly-restored Molo Plaza and its holy crest, the history-abundant Molo Church, are two of the seven. heritage sites included in R.A. 10555 as a main objective by the present Mayor, Jerry P. Treñas. It was in his capacity as congressman that he proposed the bill, which was signed into law in May 2013 by President Benigno Aquino III as An Act Declaring the Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, the Iloilo City Central Business District, Fort San Pedro, Jaro Plaza Complex, Molo Plaza Complex, and Plaza Libertad Complex, all located in the City of Iloilo, as Cultural Heritage Tourism Zones.

On June 17, 2022, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which funded the restoration project for the Molo Plaza, officially turned over the plaza to the local government unit (LGU) of Iloilo City. Consistently, it is a favorite go-to place for tourists and locals alike. There is no dearth of fun things that can be done in Molo Plaza. You can wallow in the view of scenic trees above you while sitting on the plaza’s array of concrete benches, take striking pictures of yourself in front of the domed-shaped gazebo and life-size statues, enjoy the lively city lights while eating mouth-watering street foods after buying from multifarious food carts at night, get lost in the hypnotizing sound of the central fountain’s gushing waters, delve into the neo-gothic aesthetic of the Molo Church, or just simply take a romantic stroll around the area to your heart’s content. Molo Plaza is a place where nature, aesthetic, arts, history and the contemporary collide. Be it for educational, romantic, or self-preservation purposes, it is an absolute favorite hangout place for everybody!

Some footprints are hidden beneath the sand. In other places, you will find yourself walking on uneven mixes of stones and dirt. But here in Iloilo City, you’ll soon find a swift connection through these sea petals, the Love Garden. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, as the saying goes. But a certain Ilonggo Group and the city government would probably disagree. For them, their journey begins not only with a single step but with numerous steps of careful planning, collaborative effort, and a whole lot of consistency in beautifying the city center. It’s no secret that Iloilo is one of the places in the Philippines that dominates tourist attractions, either manmade or natural. The Iloilo Tourism Office has initiated a City Beautification Program since 2003 to elevate the City of Love’s tourism standing. The Iloilo City Mayor, Hon. Jerry Trenas, takes pride in introducing new projects that promote eco-friendly attractions and, at the same time, advocate for mental health awareness, just like this garden site. Iloilo City’s Love Garden is located along the roads of Barangay Nabitasan La Paz, Iloilo City, where everyone is welcome to enjoy and meditate. The pandemic has greatly affected the tourism industry, not just outside the province but also in the city center. However, despite the global dilemma, there were still individuals who took steadfast actions to create opportunities for the tourism industry of Iloilo City to bloom again. Individuals who have come together to share one common goal and interest, and that is to find beauty in the middle of the vibrant and bustling city of love. One of those individuals is Mr. Ricy Montalbo, team leader of the working group. Dako guid ang nabulig sa akon sang ini nga proyekto kun ngaa naging regular ako sa ubra pero indi lang na, nakabulig man ako sa akon kasimanwa kag pati man sa akon palibot syudad asta sa ulihi. “Ang ini nga proyekto para guid ini sa tanan kag gani, pagahalongan ta sa gilayon ang amon naumpisahan para sa puturo sang aton turismo sa syudad sang paghigugma” he happily expressed. Dako guid ang nabulig sa akon sang ini nga proyekto kun ngaa naging regular ako sa ubra pero indi lang na, nakabulig man ako sa akon kasimanwa kag pati man sa akon palibot syudad asta sa ulihi. “Ang ini nga proyekto para guid ini sa tanan kag gani, pagahalongan ta sa gilayon ang amon naumpisahan para sa puturo sang aton turismo sa syudad sang paghigugma” he happily expressed. In the middle of the rainbow-like garden with striking rays from above, Sir Ricy revealed that the creation of the Love Garden project was initiated in 2003. However, due to some reasons, it only got the chance to continue after the pandemic. It was Sir Ricy who suggested recreating the said project, and by doing so, he was appointed to be the team leader of the group. Starting from an unembellished and bare place, which was only surrounded by wild plants and trees, the Love Garden was put into existence with the careful and creative planning and cooperation of the Iloilo City Government and its working group. The garden is filled with various flowers such as margarita, giant sunflower, santan, purple button, plumbago, milkweed plants, and yellow celosias. Concrete benches, animal figurines, and bahay-kubo were also placed. A mini pond with koi fish and makeshift waterfalls made out of recycled materials was also installed. The Love Garden was enticingly arranged, which will surely catch your attention and eventually captivate your hearts. The Love Garden is indeed one of the newest tourism sites located in the city center. A relaxing open space for the public that aims to attract locals and tourists free of charge. So come and never miss the opportunity to be loved in this beautiful creation of man-made flora!